Obamas first date film "Southside With You" has $3 million box office weekend
“Southside With You” -- the recently released film that documents how President Obama courted the future first lady of the United States--premiered in more than 800 theaters this weekend and brought in an estimated $3 million in box office sales, according to studio estimates.
The romantic comedy--which made its way into mainstream theaters after a successful run at the Sundance film festival-- earned positive reviews from pop culture websites and critics. Rotten Tomatoes showed a 92 percent rating for the movie and described “Southside With You” as “a fateful real-life date with strong performances and engaging dialogue, adding up to a romance that makes for a pretty good date movie in its own right.”
Directed by Richard Tanne, “Southside With You” doesn’t tell a tale of “love at first sight.” In fact, Michelle Robinson--played by Tika Sumpter--appeared unimpressed by the future commander in chief’s tardiness and deteriorating yellow Datsun vehicle.
“This is not a date. How do you think it’s going to look if I start dating the first cute black guy who walks through the firm’s doors? It would be tacky,” she said.
“You think I’m cute?” he replied.
“I didn’t say that,” she affirmed.
As the day went on, the outing did end up resembling more of a date than a friendly gathering --much to Robinson’s dismay. The young couple visited the Art Institute of Institute of Chicago before Barack Obama-- starring Parker Sawyers--wooed her with his oratory skills at a community organizing meeting. The night continued with a screening of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” Baskin Robbins’ chocolate ice cream, and a first kiss.
As for the film’s truthfulness, the director said in an interview with Vanity Fair, “the trajectory of the date is about 90 percent accurate.”
And the two main actors agreed the movie’s themes of family, forgiveness and ambition speak to people on both sides of the political aisle.
“I hope it just makes people smile,” Tika Sumpter said in an NPR interview. “And I hope they feel refreshed and I hope they feel some sort of connection. I think whatever political stand you take, it’s not a political film. It’s the origins of this amazing couple and I think anybody who has ever fallen in love can understand.”